Elastic connecting device.



M. ALBERTZ. [ELASTIC CONNECTING DEVIGB. APPLICATION FILED AUG.24, 1911.

1,101,1 12, Patented June 23,191

Fig.2.

h z'g'izaszses: i Zwemivr I fil'oriwy MATHIAS ALBERTZ, F COLOGNE,GER-MANY.

ELASTIC CONNECTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 24, 1911.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Serial No. 645,763.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Martins ALBnR'rz, asubject of the German Emperor, residing at Cologne-on-the-Rhine,Germany, 28 Muhlenbach, have invented new and useful Improvements inElastic Connecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has for its object to dispense with the use ofrubber in the manufacture or braces and similar articles which areintended to exert an elastic action, as the rubber used in thesearticles is expensive and is rapidly worn out.

According to the present invention the elastic efi'ect is attainedsolely by the use of an elastic link or buckle consisting of two metalmembers by preference in the "form of wire hoops which are provided withoblique shanks guided one on the other for instance by means of guidepins ar-' ranged on the shanks of one hoop and engaging with slots inthe shanks of the other hoop, in such manner that on the two resilientmembers being drawn apart the shanks of one member are compressed andthose of the other member are spread apart whereby one member exerts anelastic pressure on the other in such manner that when the two membersare freed they immediately return to their initial position.

One form of the invention is illustrated by way ot' example in theaccompanying drawing in which:

Figures 1 and 2 show the elastic buckle in retracted posit-ion in frontview and lateral 1 view respectively. Fig. 3 shows the buckle in itsexpanded position and Fig. l shows the expanded buckle in perspectiveview. 1

The two members or hoops a. Z) are made i of steel wire and theirobliquely shapedl shanks 0 (I may be hardened so that they? may retaintheir resilient action as long as possible. In the construction shownthe two shanks o oi the lower hoop are of the diverging type whereas thetwo shanks (Z of the upper hoop converge in such manner that the shanksof the upper hoop are parallel with those of the lower (Z of the upperhoop moreover are grooved or hollowed out so as to present an arc shapedor semi-circular cross section and in l the grooves thus formed theshanks 0 of the lower hoop are guided. In order to prel vent the twomembers from falling apart the shanks (Z of the upper member areprovided with longitudinal slots 6 adapted to l hoop. The shanks receiveguide pins f arranged on the shanks c or the lower member. The guidepins f may be provided with small nuts or other means by which membersis efliciently counter-acted.

It will be seen that when the two straps g I: of the braces or the likeare drawn apart as shown in Figs. 3 and 4-, the shanks of the twomembers or hoops are caused to glide one on the other whereby the shanks0 of the lower hoop are yieldingly compressed and the shanks (Z of theupper hoop are drawn apart. This double resilient action causes the twoelastic members when released to always automatically return into theposition shown in Fig. 1 thus forming an elastic intermediate memberbetween the two straps g h whereby the necessity of makthe straps g helastic by the insertion of rubber threads as has been hithertonecessary for instance in the case of braces is dispensed with. Theextent to which the two hoops may be drawn apartin an elastic manner isrelatively great so that in using braces of this kind the elastic actionis very efiicient. Where the wire members are made of ha dened steelwire the resiliency of the buckle is well maintained and braces of thiskind can be Worn for a considerable length of time without anysubstantial slacking of their elasticity. In order to still furtherincrease the elasticity of braces of this kind several buckles orintermediate members of this kind may be used in connection with asingle strap. These wire buckles may moreover be rendered indifferent torust by nickeling or silver plating so that their elasticity cannot beaffected by perspiration or other causes whereas rubber as is well-knowniniuriously aitected by the contact with the body of the wearer.Moreover as the price of such wire buckles is exceedingly small it willbe seen that by dispensing with rubber which is expensive the cost ofsuch articles may be considerably reduced.

The elastic wire buckles according to this invention may be used inbelts or other articles which are intended to exert an elastic actionsuch as for instance in waist belts, bandages, shoe buckles, garters,closing hooks tor garments and the like and according to the manner andthe object in which they are to be used they can easily be produced inany desired size and of any suitable material.

Having now particularly described and the separation of the twoascertained the nature of my said invention l and in what manner thesame is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In an elasticconnecting device, in combination, a resilient wire member provided withresilient converging arms and a second resilient wire member providedwith resilient diverging arms, said diverging arms being parallel withsaid converging arms and being slidingly connected therewith.

2. In an elastic connecting device, in combination, a resilient wiremember provided with resilient converging arms and a second resilientwire member provided with resilient diverging arms, each of the arms ofone of said members being provided with a slot and each of the arms ofthe other member being provided with means engaging said slots, wherebysaid arms are slidlngly connected to one another.

Copies In an elastic connecting device, in com'- bination, a membercomprising a central portion and converging arms extending from the endsthereof, said arms being resiliently connected to said central portion,and a second member comprising a central portion and diverging armsextending from the ends thereof, said arms being resiliently connectedto said central portion, said diverging arms being parallel to saidconverging arms and being slidingly connected thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATHIAS ALBERTZ, lVitnesses OSCAR DEPNER, Tnnonon MERKENIoH.

of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents, I Washington,

